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Furman music alumnae collaborate on ‘TODAY’ performance with Kristin Chenoweth
Mary Huff ’99 (left) and Mary-Mitchell Campbell ’96 (right) with New York City Children’s Chorus in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Photo: Mary Huff.
Kristin Chenoweth performs with the NYCCC led by Mary W. Huff ’99 (far right). Photo: NBC “TODAY”.
Furman University music alumni Mary Wannamaker Huff ’99 and Mary-Mitchell Campbell ’96 played a key role in a special Easter performance by Broadway singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth on NBC’s “TODAY.”
The Emmy and Tony Award-winning Chenoweth delighted unknowing tourists at St. Patrick’s Cathedral when she performed “Upon This Rock” with the New York City Children’s Chorus (NYCCC) led by Huff, artistic director of NYCCC.
The NYCCC has performed virtually every year on “TODAY” since Huff founded the chorus in 2012. Huff collaborated on the performance with Campbell, her close friend Campbell and music director for Chenoweth.
Kristin Chenoweth performs with NYCCC in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Mary Huff ’99 (right) directs. Photo provided by Mary Huff.
In addition to her role with NYCCC, Huff is associate director of music at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Her choirs have appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” “Good Morning America,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Apple TV+, NBC Sports, CBS “Sunday Morning,” and FOX, as well as at Carnegie Hall, on Broadway, Radio City Music Hall, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and on several overseas tours.
Huff has recorded three albums on MSR Classics – “Christmas in New York,” “Simple Gifts: American and British Arts Songs of the 20th Century,” and “Angel: Sacred Anthems for Treble Voices.” She holds degrees from Furman and Yale University.
On top of her Broadway and touring credits, Campbell enjoys an active concert career performing frequently with Chenoweth, Gavin Creel, Jessica Vosk and Raul Esparza. In her pop career, she has worked with Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Carole King, Amy Grant, Kelly Clarkson, James Taylor and Josh Groban, among others.
She was the music director and orchestrator of HBO’s “Homeschool Musical,” and was the vocal director for season 1 of Peacock’s “Girls5Eva,” produced by Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond. She also served as vocal coach for “Better Nate Than Ever” on Disney+.
Campbell graduated from Furman and the North Carolina School of the Arts, where she holds an honorary doctorate. After teaching on the faculties of Juilliard, NYU, and Boston College, she continues to lead master classes and teach private lessons.